Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-02-17
The Influence Of Woman.

| Mythical and classical tales remind us
| of womans influence in the early ages
historical and biographical sketches tell us
| of her influence in more recent times; and
in the present age we have the knowledge
of the work of woman in shaping the
| course of political events in parts of Eu-
| rope and England, and to some extent in
this country also.
Those who believe in woman suffrage
| are they who seek the powers exerted by
| their influence, with the greater earnest
ness They believe they are working in
and for a cause and to this end they give
| themselves and their influence.
| Those who do not thoroughly believe in
| woman suffrage, or do not care enough
about it to interest themselves therein. are
| they who turn their powers in other di-
| rections. perhaps to influence the move
| mcnts of society ,as is usually considered, or
| society As it should and doubtless will be
when literature and the arts shall be recog-
| nizcd as parts of the needs and objects
| Of social intercourse. Great pride is taken
| in ones social influence. and it often cauS-
es its posSeSSor to be envied by those who
do not possess the same distinction.
| The educational influence of woman is or
! has been rather aggressive than otherwise.
| When her admission to colleges and uni
yersitics was ridiculcd and postponed and
! in some instances denied, she persisted in
her attempts to obtain equal educational
advantages with her brother, and finally
her aggressive influence made itself felt
and She gained what she sought.
An unobtrusive influence cmanates from
woman which makes itself felt on the
street, in the cars, and in every place where
men and women meet together, and which
| brings out the courtesy and polite atten-
/ tions given by the ''>tcrner sex To their
sisters. We are speaking of men and
women, not of those who only pretend to
| be gentlemen" and ladies"
Among societies, those organizations
which admit woman to their sacred pre-
cinCts' are better governed and have bet
4 ter following than those which are given
up exclusively To men. 1t is the influence
/ of woman which develops the best quail
ters Of the ''othcr half" and prevents the
tougher elements from being manifested.
! This sway and the fear of di>plea>ing Keep
/ back all offensive acts. A. they should Toe
held back in all gatherings where only men
meet Ii Is a quiet influence, which
even the po~>csSor> thereof do not fully
realize Men who, a. boys, have been
taught at home to bc gentle with their >i~-
tiers. are imbucd with the feeling that all
this way is the influence of the good moth
or felt through succeeding years and
events
In the matter of Judgment, man i large
IL influenced by the advice of woman. lie
may think himself entirely Independent,
I but in some indctinablc way the words of
counsel which he has heard from wife or
friend will repeat themselves in his mind,
and he il induced to act according to that
advice. Granted, that in some cases such
influence has led to the failure Of some
cherished plan. Doesn't mans unaidcd
judgment tend that way just a often; And
i not success. more often than failure, to
be attributed to the counsel of some wise
woman
I The change in the character of the moral
/ heroine shows that the influence of woman
I has extended itself even into the field of
novel writing. The heroine Of the old
/ time novel was generally weak and sub
nissiyc.-uot the characters Of the great
/ novcliSt~. however f. without sufficient
/ strength If character to make herself in
/ dependent Of the mode of life which
seemed 10 be chosen fer her. The heroine
Of the modern world i not tame T
/ She has ideas Of her own as to the fitness
[ of things and She has enough independence
Of character 10 make her liv" up 70 her
/ standard Of lifr. Isn't the change in tn,
| .'hcrnince mirrorcd from the chan =
| In real life? And isn't this difference
caused by the fact that women are begin
ming % realize that they were created for
a purpose, ami that they have powers
! which should be cmploved!
In politics. in religion, in education q
friendships, in ali the affairs Of life, w oman
cxcrt~ a greater or les influence. How
important then that it should be a good
Influence an influence which Shall create
good purposes and which shall extend To
the fulhllmrnt of those purposes; which
Shall measure itself not simply IN the
growth If onr good deed, but BY the con-
ception and cultivation of a higher stand
ard Of morality, thus acting and rcacting
through infinite circles Of time.